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Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers

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"Freddy's" redirects here. For the video game series, see Five Nights at Freddy's.

Freddy's, LLC
Freddy's
Formerly
  • Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers
    (2002–2024)
Company typePrivate
IndustryRestaurants Franchising
GenreFast-casual
Founded2002; 23 years ago (2002)
Founders
  • Bill Simon
  • Randy Simon
  • Scott Redler
  • Freddy Simon
Headquarters260 N. Rock Road
Wichita, Kansas
United States
Number of locations
560 (2025)
Area served
United States[1]
Key people
Chris Dull, CEO, President[2] and Co-Founder
Scott Redler, COO and Co-Founder
Freddy Simon, Co-Founder
ProductsSteakburgers, hot dogs, french fries, frozen custard, milkshakes, soft drinks
RevenueIncrease US$925 million (September 2024)
OwnerRhone Capital
Number of employees
9,751 (2021)
Websitefreddys.com

Freddy's LLC, doing business as Freddy's (previously Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers until 2024), is an American fast-casual restaurant chain based in Wichita, Kansas.[3] Its menu includes steakburgers, Vienna Beef hot dogs, and chicken sandwiches along with frozen custard and specialty sundaes.[4][5][6]

History

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Frederick L. "Freddy" Simon grew up in Colwich, Kansas, near Wichita. He was a World War II veteran, joining the U.S. Army infantry in 1943 and serving in the 1st Cavalry Division. He was awarded the Purple Heart due to combat wounds sustained in the Pacific Theater, as well as a Bronze Star for valor.[7] After the war, Simon worked for the same company in the hospitality industry for 55 years, building connections with many restaurateurs.

Freddy lent his name to, and was a business partner in, a Simon family-owned restaurant called Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers. Founded by his sons Randy and Bill and Bill's friend, restauranteur Scott Redler, the first location opened in Wichita in 2002.[8] Freddy's quickly gained a loyal customer base, leading to further expansion beginning in 2004. Freddy's menu has remained consistent over the years, offering signature steakburgers, Vienna Beef hot dogs, and fresh frozen custard desserts across all locations.[9] The food was based on "All American" meals that Freddy had served his own family, with the setting of the restaurant based on fast-casual dining of the late 1940s and early 1950s, evoking "a post-war era of optimism, pride, and values focusing on unity and quality family time."[10]

On December 17, 2016, Freddy's co-founder Bill Simon died at the age of 61 after a battle with cancer.[11] Freddy Simon died at the age of 95 on October 25, 2020.[12]

In March 2021, private equity firm Thompson Street Capital Partner purchased Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers for an undisclosed amount.[13] In May 2021, Freddy's hired Chris Dull as CEO to take over the top post from co-founder Randy Simon.[14] In August 2022, Freddy's hired Brian Wise as COO to take over the operations post from co-founder Scott Redler.[15]

In November 2022, the company signed a master franchise and development agreement that will allow the brand to expand into Canada by 2025, opening restaurants in nine provinces.[16][17]

In August 2025, Rhône Group agreed to acquire Freddy's from Thompson Street Capital Partners, who acquired the brand in 2021, for an enterprise value of around $700 million.[18] The acquisition was finalized in September 2025.[19]

Locations

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The company opened its first location on August 26, 2002, near the intersection of 21st Street and Tyler Road in Wichita; this location is still in operation. In November 2022, it was announced that Freddy's would be expanding to nine provinces in Canada, with the first location set for a 2025 opening.[16][17] As of October 30, 2023, Freddy's had more than 493 locations across 37 states and 375 cities. In 2023, Freddy's opened 62 new locations, a record for the company, including its first restaurant in a Major League Baseball stadium at the St. Louis Cardinals' Busch Stadium.[20] As of September 10, 2025, Freddy's has 560 locations across 37 states.[21]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Star, Brad (August 10, 2021). "Freddy's Frozen Custard in Grand Chute has opening date". The Post-Crescent. Retrieved August 17, 2021. The Wichita, Kansas-based chain has over 380 locations across 32 states.
  2. ^ Ewen, Beth; Kaiser, Tom; Michaels, Laura; Upton, Nicholas (December 27, 2018). "Fast & Serious: 11-20". Franchise Times. Retrieved May 30, 2019.
  3. ^ Neil, Denise (September 1, 2017). "Freddy's at 15: Wichita-based chain worked because it didn't have to". The Wichita Eagle. Retrieved December 27, 2017.
  4. ^ Start Your Own Restaurant and More: Pizzeria, Coffeehouse, Deli, Bakery, Catering Business. StartUp Series. Entrepreneur Press. 2016. p. 27. ISBN 978-1-61308-344-4. Retrieved December 27, 2017.
  5. ^ "Ready for Freddy's". Arktimes.com. July 20, 2017. Retrieved December 27, 2017.
  6. ^ "Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers opens". The Daily News. Jacksonville, NC. December 6, 2017. Archived from the original on August 27, 2021. Retrieved December 27, 2017.
  7. ^ "Freddy's namesake, Freddy Simon, dies at age 95". www.fastcasual.com. October 27, 2020. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
  8. ^ Heck, Josh (2013). "Freddy's Frozen Custard — A timeline of growth". Biz Journals.
  9. ^ Wilson, James. "Freddy's Frozen Custard". Freddy's Menu. Retrieved June 15, 2025.
  10. ^ "Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers". National Center for the Middle Market. June 2017. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
  11. ^ Magazine, Q. S. R. (December 19, 2016). "Bill Simon, Co-Founder of Freddy's, Passes Away at 61". QSR Magazine. Retrieved March 31, 2025.
  12. ^ "Freddy's namesake, Freddy Simon, dies at age 95". Fast Casual. October 27, 2020. Retrieved March 31, 2025.
  13. ^ Maze, Jonathan (March 3, 2021). "Freddy's Frozen Custard is sold to Thompson Street Capital Partners". Restaurant Business. Retrieved February 6, 2025.
  14. ^ Lalley, Heather (May 6, 2021). "Freddy's Frozen Custard gets a new CEO in Chris Dull". Restaurant Business. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
  15. ^ Ruggless, Ron (August 29, 2022). "Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers names Brian Wise as operations chief". Nation's Restaurant News. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
  16. ^ a b "Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers Expanding in Canada". QSR Magazine. October 17, 2024. Retrieved February 6, 2025.
  17. ^ a b "Freddy's heading to Canada". www.fastcasual.com. November 30, 2022. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
  18. ^ Summerville, Abigail (August 29, 2025). "Rhône Group to acquire Kansas restaurant chain Freddy's, sources say". Reuters. Retrieved August 30, 2025.
  19. ^ "Freddy's acquired by PE firm Rhône". www.nrn.com. Retrieved September 8, 2025.
  20. ^ "Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers Exceeds Company Record, Opening 62 New Restaurants in 2023". www.pr.com. January 10, 2024. Retrieved February 24, 2024.
  21. ^ "Order Online". Freddy's. Retrieved September 10, 2025.
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